DATE=10/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239614
TITLE=COLOMBIA / PEACE CONFERENCE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=CHALLISS MCDONOUGH
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A CONFERENCE ON THE POSSIBILITES FOR PEACE IN COLOMBIA
IS BEING HELD IN WASHINGTON TODAY (FRIDAY). THE LONG-RUNNING
CONFLICT BETWEEN GOVERNMENT FORCES, ARMED REBELS, AND DRUG
CARTELS HAS KILLED AN ESTIMATED 30-THOUSAND COLOMBIANS AND FORCED
MORE THAN ONE MILLION FROM THEIR HOMES. AS V-O-A'S CHALLISS
MCDONOUGH REPORTS, THE CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS SAY THE RECENT
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT ANDRES PASTRANA HAS OPENED UP NEW
OPPORTUNITES FOR PEACE.
TEXT: THE CONFERENCE SERVED IN PART AS A BRIEFING SESSION ON
RECENT PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE IN COLOMBIA.
/// OPT /// AT LEAST 150 PEOPLE PACKED INTO A CONGRESSIONAL
MEETING ROOM TO HEAR ABOUT THE PEACE PROCESS FROM SCHOLARS, HUMAN
RIGHTS ACTIVISTS AND COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. ///END OPT
///
MUCH OF THE AGENDA FOCUSED ON THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES AND
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN HELPING THE PEACE PROCESS ALONG.
U-S CONGRESSMAN JIM MCDERMOTT SAID U-S ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS HAVE HAD
SEVERE, UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES IN COLOMBIA.
// MCDERMOTT ACT //
IN AN EFFORT TO FIGHT THE DRUG CARTELS, THE U-S HAS
TRAINED COLOMBIAN MILITARY PERSONNEL AND PROVIDES
EQUIPMENT TO THEIR MILITARY. UNFORTUNATELY, IN MY VIEW,
ALL TOO OFTEN THE MILITARY PERSONNEL THAT WE HAVE
TRAINED BECOME THOSE WHO VIOLATE THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE
COLOMBIAN PEOPLE.
// END ACT //
THE LAWMAKER SAYS U-S POLICY TOWARD COLOMBIA IS EXPANDING, FROM
ONE FOCUSED ONLY ON DRUGS TO ONE THAT LINKS HUMAN RIGHTS TO THE
ANTI-NARCOTICS EFFORTS.
THE COLOMBIAN HIGH COMMISSONER FOR PEACE, VICTOR RICARDO, SAYS
HIS GOVERNMENT WANTS END THE FIGHTING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND
THE REBELS SO IT CAN BETTER FIGHT THE NARCOTICS TRADE.
// RICARDO ACT IN SPANISH, ESTABLISH AND FADE //
HE SAYS, THIS IS WHAT WE ASK THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, AND
ESPECIALLY THE UNITED STATES: TO WORK WITH US SO WE CAN FIND
RECONCILIATION BETWEEN COLOMBIANS AND HAVE A COUNTRY AT PEACE,
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUALITY. THEN THE PEACE PLAN CAN TRULY BE
THE INSTRUMENT FOR ABOLISHING DRUG TRAFFICKING AND HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS IN HIS COUNTRY.
A PROFESSOR FROM GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY DISCUSSED THE ROLES OF THE
U-S AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN THE MOST DETAIL. MARC
CHERNICK SAYS THE UNITED NATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS AND OTHER
COUNTRIES CAN ALL SUPPORT THE COLOMBIANS, BUT THEY WILL SERVE
MORE AS SAFEGUARDS OF THE PROCESS THAN PEACEMAKERS.
// CHERNICK ACT //
PEACE WILL BE MADE BY COLOMBIANS. THE SHAPE OF THE
PEACE AND THE SPECIFICS OF THE PEACE WILL BE DETERMINED
BY COLOMBIANS. IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR OUTSIDERS --
AND PROBABLY NOT POSSIBLE -- TO MICROMANAGE THIS
PROCESS.
// END CHERNICK ACT //
// OPT // AWARD-WINNING COLOMBIAN JOURNALIST MARIA CRISTINA
CABALLERO DISCUSSED A STUDY THAT COMPARES DIFFERENT REBEL GROUPS'
AGENDAS, IN AN EFFORT TO FIND COMMON GROUND FOR PEACE
NEGOTIATIONS. SHE DESCRIBED IT AS AN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, RATHER
THAN BULLETS.
FATHER JORGE MARTINEZ, LEADER OF THE NATIONAL CONCILIATION
COMMISSION, ADVOCATED FOR A WIDER ROLE FOR CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE
PEACE PROCESS. HE EMPHASIZED DIALOGUE, AND SAID THE END RESULT
MUST INCLUDE EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL COLOMBIANS.
// MARTINEZ ACT IN SPANISH, ESTABLISH AND FADE //
HE SAYS THE VIOLENCE IN THE COLOMBIAN WAR HAS BEEN A VICIOUS
CIRCLE. WE HAVE THIS WAR BECAUSE OF SOCIAL INJUSTICE, BUT THE
WAR ITSELF IS GENERATING NEW MANEFESTATIONS OF SOCIAL INJUSTICE.
THE PEACE PROCESS IN COLOMBIA -- BE IT DIFFICULT, BE IT PROLONGED
-- MUST NECESSARILY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE STRUCTURAL CAUSES OF
THE INEQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES. ///END OPT ///
THE CONFERENCE PANALISTS SAID COLOMBIAN VOTERS HAVE GIVEN THEIR
NEW PRESIDENT A WIDE MANDATE FOR PEACE. WITHOUT EXCEPTION, THE
PARTICIPANTS EXPRESSED THEIR FAITH IN MR. PASTRANA'S WILLINGESS
AND ABILITY TO BRIDGE THE GAP WITH THE REBELS. (SIGNED)
NEB/CEM/PT
02-Oct-98 4:41 PM EDT (2041 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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